Top-adjuster for vehicles



(No Model.)

L. 0. SWEET.

TOP ADJUSTER FOR-VEHICLES.

No. 565,814. Patented Aug. 11, 1896,

the top is turned down.

NITED ST TES 'ATENT Fries.

LARNTINE C. SYVEET, OF LOAMI, ILLINOIS.

TOP-ADJUSTER FOR VEHICLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 565,814, dated August11, 1896.

Application filed November 29, 1895} Serial No. 570,503. (No model.)

To all, whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LARNTINE 0. SWEET, a citizen of the United States,residingat Loami, in the county of Sangamon and State of Illinois, haveinvented a new and useful Top- Adjuster for Vehicles, of which thefollowing is such a full, clear, and exact description as will enablethose skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use my saidinvention.

The purpose of my invention is to provide simple and effective meanswhereby the tops of vehicles may when raised be turned down or whenturned down may be raised by the occupant of the vehicle without leavinghis seat and without having to reach around on the outside of the sidesof the top to break the joints by which the top is supported.

With this end in view my invention consists of certain novel features ofconstruction and combinations of parts shown in the annexed drawings, towhich reference is hereby made and hereinafter particularly describedand claimed.

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the top-adjuster in position onthe vehicle-top when the top is raised. Fig. 2 is a side elevationshowing the top-adj uster in position when Fig. 3 is an enlargeddetached perspective view of part of the arched bar of the top-adjusterand shows the loop atone end of the bar, part of the loop being shown insection, so as to show the position of the rubber tubing on the loop.This View also shows the means for connecting the arched bar with thebow of the vehicle-top. Fig. i is an enlarged detached perspective viewof one of the clamps and a portion of the bow of the vehicle-top towhich it is attached, and shows the means for securing the clamp on thebow.

Similar letters of reference designate like parts in all of the views.

My top-adj uster is designed to be used with vehicles of any kind havingtops which turn form to the arch of the vehicle-top. This bar hasintegral horizontal extensions 61 and integral curved extensions cl. Theparts d are curved, as shown in Fig. 2, so that when the vehicle-top isturned down the hinged joints 0 of the vehicle-top may not strikeagainst them. At thelower ends of the extensions d are integral loops 61which are covered with rubber tubing d This tubing serves to retain theloops on the hinged joints 0 of the vehicle-top. It also serves as acushion to prevent injury to the joints by the rubbing or striking ofthe loops thereon.

To facilitate the attachment of the bar D to the vehicle top, one sideof each of the loops d? is left open, so that the joints C may bereadily inserted between the ends of the loop. When the joints 0 are inplace, the

rubber tubes (i are drawn on the loops, so as to extend across and closethe space between the ends of the loops.

The clamp E consists of two abutting members eand 6 connected to 'etherbY screws 6 Both of these members are longitudinally concave, as at 6 andare adapted to fit around the bows B in such manner that when the screws6 are tightened the clamps will be firmly held on the bows. Each of themembers c has a transverse notch 6 which accommodates the part d of thebar D, so that the bar will turn in the notches in the clamps Each ofthe members 6 has an internal longitudinal groove 6 It also has atransverse notch e The notch c accommodates the part cl of the rod Dexactly as the notch 6 does, and the part d is retained in place by akey a of leather or other suitable material, fitting in the groove 6 andextending downward and part way around the part (1. Two notches e and eare provided in order that the rod D may be pivotally supported oneither side of the bows B, as may be desired; also in order that in casethat member which is supporting the rod D becomes broken the othermember may be substituted for it.

The operation of the device is as follows: \Vhen the vehicle-top israised and it is desired to turn it down, the occupant of the vehicletakes hold of the arched central part of the bar D and pulls it forward,so as to turn the bar in the notches e of the clamp E,

thereby causing the loops (Z on the parts d j to engage with the joints0, so as to break the joints and permit the top to turn downward in anobvious manner. To raise the top, this operation is reversed.

Having fully described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. A top-adjuster for vehicles, consisting of a transverse bar supportedon and turning in clamps secured to the bows of a vehicletop and havingcurved extensions provided with loops adapted to engage With the jointsof a vehicle-top, each of said loops having an opening in its side, andhaving a rubber tube extending across and closing said opening; as setforth.

2. In a top-adjuster for vehicles, clamps E LARNTINE C. SWVEET.

Witnesses:

L. G. SANBORN, G. W. KINNEY.

